Stainton, Robert
Unembedded definite descriptions and relevance
STAINTON, Robert. “Unembedded definite descriptions and relevance”. Revista alicantina de estudios ingleses. No. 11 (Nov. 1998). ISSN 0214-4808, pp. 231-239
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10045/5377
DOI: 10.14198/raei.1998.11.17
ISSN: 0214-4808
Abstract: 
Definite descriptions (e.g. 'The king of France in 1997', 'The teacher of Aristotle') do not stand for particulars. Or so I will assume. The semantic alternative has seemed to be that descriptions only have meaning within sentences: i.e., that their semantic contribution is given syncategorimatically. This doesn't seem right, however, because descriptions can be used and understood outside the context of any sentence. Nor is this use simply a matter of "ellipsis." Since descriptions do not denote particulars, but seem to have a meaning in
isolation, I propose that they be assigned generalized quantifiers as denotations — i.e. a kind of function, from sets/properties to propositions. I then defend the pragmatic plausibility of this proposal, using Relevance Theory. Specifically, I argue that, even taken as standing for generalized quantifiers, descriptions could still be used and understood in interpersonal communication.
Keywords:Teoría de la relevancia, Lógica proposicional, Forma lógica, Descripción definida, Pragmática
Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Filología Inglesa
info:eu-repo/semantics/article